Eight great dorm room decorating ideas

How exciting!  The time has come for you to move in to your own space even if it is an 8×10 dorm room that will be shared with one, two, maybe even three other girls.  The trick to dorm room decorating is to find storage in every little nook and cranny available and to use items that are multi-purpose.  And while you want the room to be pretty and reflect your personality, it must be functional first.  Here are eight easy ideas that may help when it comes time to create your own space.

1. Most dorms do not allow you to paint the walls.  Besides, how difficult would it be to get all you girls to decide on a color?  To hide those ugly dorm room walls (or at least your section) create a custom message board that is half cork to post notes  and pictures and half white board to write reminders etc.  In place of all those posters that serve no functional purpose, this can hang right above your bed.  Paint the molding a color that coordinates with your bedding and it will act as a headboard.
2. Under bed storage is a must; as are units with drawers and wheels.  Shops like The Container Store have items made specifically for a dorm room and there are cool colors and patterns available. 
3. Space bags make it possible to store out of season clothing and bedding in small spaces, allowing you to be comfortable all year long.
4. If you know your roommates, you can coordinate your bedding for a real pulled together look.  But chances are you will meet her on the first day of check-in.  Result—each girl will have different colors and patterns.  So choose what makes you happy and comfortable.  Buy the best sheets you can afford so insure a good night’s sleep because you are going to need it! 
5. To help ease the pangs of homesickness, be sure to have plenty of pictures of your family and friends around.  To save space, have these pictures transferred on to a lap quilt, pillow case, wall hanging or tote bag.
6. Even something as simple as clothes hangers can make a decorative statement.  For an uncluttered look, choose hangers in one color that, again, coordinates with your bedding.  For a wild and crazy look, buy hangers in all available colors for a rainbow effect.  You can assign a color to each type of clothing i.e. red for jeans, blue for blouses etc. 
7.  Hanging purses on the wall can act as a functional piece of artwork and add color and texture at the same time.
8. Most dorms provide each student with a small desk and chair.  Create a cute slipcover or seat cushion for your chair and turn that utilitarian piece of furniture into something pretty.

Moving into a dorm room is both exciting and scary.  Surrounding yourself with your favorite items and your favorite colors will make it possible to create a little home away from home

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Upholstery-Ottomans, Footstools and Hassocks

There are some pieces of furniture that are simply workhorses in your room because they can be used in so many different ways.  Ottomans, footstools and hassocks fall into this category.  But is there a difference between these three pieces of furniture?  The simple answer is—not really.  They are all small pieces of furniture whose purpose is to provide a spot to rest your feet.  That being said, ottomans tend to be larger and are often used in lieu of a coffee table; a hassock is smaller and rounder and a footstool is usually a bit lower to the ground and smaller in size.  Let’s take a look at the various ways these furniture pieces can be put to work.

Ottomans

It is common to find an ottoman used as a coffee table.  They can be made into any shape including round, square and rectangular.  The legs can be fitted with casters allowing you to move it out of the way or around the room as necessary.  Placing a tray on top of the ottoman will provide a spot set a drink glass or to corral all those necessary items such as eyeglasses, books and the ever present remote.  The top can be removable, exposing lots of storage space for extra blankets, magazines etc.

This trend of using an ottoman in place of a coffee table will work in any interior.  A tufted velvet ottoman with brass casters is lovely in a traditional setting.  For a contemporary space, a sleek black leather ottoman on polished chrome legs fits the bill.  In a country, eclectic or transitional interior, choose a fabric that coordinates with other fabrics and colors in the room for a coordinated look.

Hassocks

Really just another term for an ottoman, a hassock is generally a bit smaller in size and is often round in shape.  These, too could be used as an end table by placing a piece of glass on top.  You may consider sliding two hassocks under a console table for use as extra seating when needed.  Placing one in front of a fireplace provides a nice spot to warm your toes without taking up too much space.  Like ottomans, they can be upholstered in any fabric of your choice.

Footstools

A footstool’s sole purpose is to provide a spot to rest your weary feet.  They sit low to the ground, ranging from 9-12″ in height and 12-15″ deep.  They can be placed directly in front of a chair, sitting between two occasional chairs or up against a wall holding books until they are needed.  Since they are so small you can upholster them in a fabric that you would not want to use in large volume such as an animal print, a bright color, a custom needlepoint etc.  Have fun with these.

Tassel trim, braid, gimp and nailheads can all be used to embellish your footstool, ottoman or hassock to add a unique look to your home.

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